Tabata gets message, leads Bucs to win

BRADENTON, Fla. – Since Jose Tabata lost his starting right fielder’s job midway through last season, the Pittsburgh Pirates have traded for two outfielders capable of taking his spot in the lineup.

Message received.

Tabata lost 15 pounds in the offseason and has been the talk of the Pirates’ spring training camp. On Sunday, he keyed a five-run second inning with a two-run double to help the Pirates build a big lead before holding on for an 8-6 victory over the Houston Astros.

Tabata is 4 for 13 with three doubles and a home run.

“I feel good about what I’m doing,” Tabata said. “I’m hitting the ball hard consistently and I feel like I’m in really good physical shape. I feel like I’m ready to have a good season.”

Tabata hit just .243 with three home runs in 103 games last season, the first year of a six-year, $15-million contract. He wound up spending six weeks at Triple-A Indianapolis at midseason and is competing with Travis Snider and Jerry Sands for a lineup spot.

The Pirates acquired Snider from the Toronto Blue Jays last July and Sands from the Boston Red Sox in December.

“This kid is moving around and playing like the way we know he can again,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s looking real good – on the bases, in the outfield, in the batter’s box. He looks fresher, cleaner, more powerful.”

John Ely, acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in an offseason trade, started for Houston and was tagged for five runs – three earned – in 1 2-3 innings.

“I felt good and the ball was down for the most part,” said Ely, competing for a spot in a wide-open Houston rotation. “I’m healthy and I feel good and, honestly, that’s really all I care about at this point in the spring.”

Pittsburgh rookie Kyle McPherson also is trying to win a rotation spot and he gave up four runs in 2 2-3 innings. He allowed two hits and three walks while striking out two.

McPherson said he also is not worried about spring training statistics.

“I don’t think you can put a lot of stock in the numbers down here,” McPherson said. “It’s about getting ready for the season. I think it’s misleading if you’re going to try to make any evaluations strictly through statistical analysis in spring training. There were a few pitches that could have gone either way that I walked guy on but I felt good with the way I threw.”

Brett Wallace hit a three-run double for Houston, which had won three straight. Pittsburgh ended a six-game skid.

Notes: The game-time temperature was 52 degrees but Houston manager Bo Porter didn’t mind. Porter said when he was playing at the University of Iowa the Hawkeyes once played a game at Kansas in 17 degrees. . Jordan Lyles, another pitcher competing for a spot in the Astros’ rotation, allowed three runs in 2 1/3 innings . Pittsburgh catcher Tony Sanchez had two hits, including a triple, and two RBIs, and second baseman Neil Walker also had two hits. . Sands and Houston shortstop Tyler Green each scored two runs. . Pirates closer Jason Grilli pitched one perfect inning then headed to the airport to catch a flight to Phoenix where he was to join Italy for the World Baseball Classic. . Pittsburgh catcher Ali Solis has decided not to play for Mexico in the WBC because he has been experiencing back spasms.